NHL Capsules: Reinprecht, Olesz lift Panthers past Stars

DALLAS — The Florida Panthers nearly wasted Steven Reinprecht’s natural hat trick before Rostislav Olesz came to the rescue.

Reinprecht scored three times in a 5:11 span of the first period, and Olesz converted in the second round of the shootout to give the Panthers a 6-5 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday night.

"That was a wild one," Panthers coach Peter DeBoer said. "There was wide open hockey out there, way too loose for my liking. If we had walked out of here with nothing, it would have been pretty hard to swallow."

Dallas rallied to send the game to overtime and the shootout, where Olesz was the only successful shooter when his attempt caromed off the goal post and behind Alex Auld. A video review confirmed that the puck crossed the goal line.

Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen denied Brad Richards in the third round to secure the victory for the Panthers, 0-3-1 in their previous four games.

"With how things have been going for us, it was an important two points," DeBoer said.

Reinprecht got the scoring started on a rebound at 10:38 of the first period, and fired another rebound past Auld at 15:20. Reinprecht completed his fifth career hat trick 29 seconds later when he swept a loose puck by Auld.

Reinprecht admitted his big night was simply a case of being in the right place at the right time.

"I don’t think that will happen again," Reinprecht said. "I kept going to the net and the puck kept popping out to me. They were tough to miss."

Olesz and Jordan Leopold also scored in regulation for the Panthers. Nathan Horton assisted on all three of Reinprecht’s goals.

Brian Sutherby, Stephane Robidas, Mike Ribeiro, James Neal and Fabian Brunnstrom scored for the Stars in coach Marc Crawford’s 1,000th NHL game.

Crawford is the 15th coach in league history to reach 1,000 games. Scotty Bowman is the leader with 2,141 games over 30 seasons for five teams. Crawford is tied for 14th with the late Roger Neilson.

The milestone game didn’t end the way Crawford wanted on a sloppy night for the Dallas defense.

"We showed a lot of character and persistence the way we fought back from a 3-0 deficit, but there were a lot of Florida Panthers who didn’t get contested the way they needed to be," Crawford said. "To be a good team, we’ve got to be a lot tighter."

Auld, getting the start with Marty Turco sidelined because of flu-like symptoms, stopped 24 shots. Clemmensen made 32 saves.

Sutherby struck from low in the left circle at 17:51 of the first period, and Robidas’ one-timer on a power play with 18 seconds left in the period made it 3-2.

"Even though we played pretty bad in the first, it was a 3-2 game and we were still in it," Robidas said. "But if you play with fire, you’re going to get burned."

Leopold’s first goal of the season extended Florida’s advantage to 4-2 at 2:38 of the second period. Ribeiro’s goal at 3:33 pulled Dallas within one, and Neal tied it at 4 from the slot after a nifty individual move at 11:17.

Olesz skated in alone and beat Auld on the backhand at 1:42 of the final period, but Brunnstrom drew Dallas even 1:11 later with his first goal of the season.

NOTES: Stars C Steve Ott finished serving a two-game suspension for a low hit on St. Louis’ Carlo Colaiacovo on Saturday night. ... Neal played in his 100th NHL game. ... LW David Booth (concussion) and RW Radek Dvorak (lower body) are out for Florida. ... Dallas called up Matt Climie from the Texas Stars of the AHL to back up Auld.

Stars G Marty Turco shelved with flulike symptoms

DALLAS — Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco has flulike symptoms and will not play against the Florida Panthers.

Dallas recalled goaltender Matt Climie from Texas of the AHL before the Stars’ home game Friday night against the Panthers.

Climie played in five games for the Texas Stars, compiling a 2-1-2 record with a 1.35 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Alberta made his NHL debut at the end of last season, appearing in three games with Dallas. He had a record of 2-1-0 and a 2.92 goals-against average.

Gaborik makes anticlimatic return to Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Marian Gaborik returned to Minnesota, but only as a spectator.

In his first season with the New York Rangers, Gaborik has 10 goals and eight assists in 12 games. The former franchise player for the Wild is fourth in the NHL with 18 points.

Gaborik was scratched and did not dress for the Rangers’ only regular-season game against Minnesota because of injury. He hurt his leg Monday night in a collision with a Phoenix player and missed a game Wednesday night against the New York Islanders.

Gaborik participated in the Rangers’ morning skate in Minnesota, but wasn’t able to play.

Many Minnesota fans booed when Gaborik’s status was announced at Xcel Energy Center.

"It would be nice to play, but I don’t want to put myself into position of it getting worse," Gaborik told reporters after the Rangers arrived Thursday night.

He said he is enjoying the experience of a new style and a new team.

"It’s very exciting. So far things are good. I like the team, the guys, the organization," said Gaborik, who signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Rangers this summer. "Everything’s been super so far."

He was asked if the Rangers are a better fit for his skills.

"I really like our system. We’re a fast team. We’re skating a lot," Gaborik said. "I think the Eastern Conference is a little different. It’s not as much tight hockey, especially throughout the neutral zone."

Wild fans grew frustrated with Gaborik’s inability to stay healthy, and he was occasionally booed at Xcel Energy Center in his last season.

The Rangers recalled forward Dane Byers from Hartford of the AHL on Friday. Byers was in the lineup against Minnesota.

Toews misses fourth straight game

CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews missed his fourth straight game because of concussion-like symptoms, sitting out Friday night against Montreal.

Toews hasn’t resumed skating after a crushing open-ice hit from Vancouver’s Willie Mitchell on Oct. 21. Toews is listed as day-to-day.

"The progress hasn’t been exactly where we wanted it," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "There’s been some progress, but at the same time, we’re just waiting to see."

After Friday, the Blackhawks don’t play again until Thursday night at Phoenix, followed by a game the next night at Colorado.

Quenneville said Toews will make the trip with the team.

"We’ve got the weekend here and a couple of days next week," Quenneville said. "Hopefully we can get him back on the ice and back out there."

Toews, in his third NHL season, has a goal and four assists in nine games. Last season, the 21-year-old center had a team-high 34 goals, and added 35 assists.

Penny and NHL Players’ Association part ways

TORONTO — Interim executive director Ian Penny and the NHL Players’ Association parted ways on Friday.

"Interim executive director Ian Penny informed the NHLPA staff and the NHLPA executive board earlier today that it is his position he has been constructively dismissed ... and can no longer work in the present circumstances," the NHLPA said in a statement. "Effective today, Ian Penny is no longer employed by the NHLPA."

There was no immediate word on a replacement.

Penny was hired after the union’s executive board fired Paul Kelly on Aug. 31. He had succeeded Ted Saskin, who was let go in May 2007 amid allegations of monitoring players’ email.

Saskin had taken over when Bob Goodenow stepped down in July 2005, shortly after a collective bargaining agreement was signed to end the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

The NHLPA has appeared to be split into factions since a salary cap was instituted as part of the CBA.

Red Wings F Filppula out with broken right wrist

DETROIT — Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula is out indefinitely after breaking his right wrist.

Filppula was injured Thursday night in a loss in Edmonton.

The Finn has six points this season, tying him for sixth on the team entering Saturday night’s game in Calgary.